Celestia spread her maps across the table and weighed the corners with stones. The third site on the northern ridgeline was circled twice. Wind from the east tugged at the parchment, as if agreeing with her. She pictured the Academy rising there — stone walls, open courtyards, students who would not have to learn alone. Seven enchanters had already said yes. Five more to convince. She folded the map and reached for her pen. A messenger arrived before the ink touched paper. He handed her a sealed letter, then left. Celestia broke the wax and read. One of the seven was withdrawing — and worse, naming the others in a list he meant to send to the duke. If that list went out, the six would be exposed before the Academy even stood. She set the letter inside an iron display case on the wall, locked it behind glass, and called the wind. She would ride the ridgeline tonight and reach him before the second copy left his hand.